Former police lieutenant dies after lifetime of public service

Tuesday

Mar 19, 2013 at 7:52 PM

A man known for public service has lost his battle with cancer. Eddie Ridgeway, a former lieutenant with Spartanburg Public Safety, died Sunday. Ridgeway retired from the department in April 2008 after 30 years of service.

By KIM KIMZEYkim.kimzey@shj.com

A man known for public service has lost his battle with cancer.Eddie Ridgeway, a former lieutenant with Spartanburg Public Safety, died Sunday. Ridgeway retired from the department in April 2008 after 30 years of service.In three decades, Ridgeway worked in every division, including investigations, narcotics, training and internal affairs.Former Master Patrol Officer Susan Sutton, also retired, knew Ridgeway for 26 years. Sutton said she is proud to have served with Ridgeway, been his friend and teammate on Our Gang.The local pool team competed last August in the American Pool Association's 8-ball nationals in Las Vegas soon after Ridgeway was diagnosed with cancer.Sutton said they went out and played hard for their teammate, who was receiving chemotherapy and unable to compete, tying for the 65th spot out of 829 teams.“Eddie Ridgeway was a police officer's police officer,” Sutton said.Though he was “big, gruff and tough,” he was a good man who cared for others, Sutton said. She said that same tough and gruff officer would kneel down to children afflicted with crippling diseases. The longer they knew each other, the larger she realized his heart was.Ridgeway, she said, was instrumental in starting the department's Shop with a Cop, a program where officers take disadvantaged children shopping for Christmas gifts. He also was a 20-year leader of the department's Buck-A-Cup campaign, which benefited children and adults with disabilities through Easter Seals South Carolina, and served as Spartanburg Police Club president.Bo Wolfe met Ridgeway about 23 years ago. They became instant friends. Wolfe said Ridgeway was his best friend — reliable and always willing to help another in need.

“Charitable work will be his legacy,” Wolfe said.Ridgeway organized yard sales, golf tournaments, poker runs. He donated money and time to the Shriner's, Special Olympics and National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund, among many other organizations and causes.Wolfe said Ridgeway considered others before himself. And he wasn't one to seek praise, despite all the accolades that Wolfe said he so deserved.“We lost a good person,” Wolfe said.Wolfe spoke with Ridgeway last Thursday. He said Ridgeway “struggled” with cancer, especially in the last few months of his life. But he never gave up. Wolfe said Ridgeway looked forward to his next radiation treatment, optimistic that it would work.“He's not hurting now,” Wolfe said.Ridgeway thought of others even as his own life drew to a close. He requested that memorials be made to children's organizations and cancer institutions on his behalf.